Cadbury has been awarded the Best Green Packaging Award at this year’s prestigious Green Awards for the launch of its unboxed ‘Eco-Eggs’ range in Easter 2008. Cadbury was also shortlisted for Corporate Responsibility at the National Business Awards and was highly commended for Environmental Sustainability at last month’s IGD Awards.
The Eco-Eggs launch supports Cadbury’s commitment to reducing its global environmental footprint. In 2007 Cadbury made a commitment to combat climate change, leading the industry by becoming the first food manufacturer to commit to ‘absolute’ carbon reduction by 50 per cent by 2020 through its Purple Goes Green initiative. Within Purple Goes Green, Cadbury has also committed to a 10 per cent reduction in standard packaging and a 25 per cent reduction in seasonal packaging by 2020.
The Cadbury Eco-Eggs range provides two sizes of unboxed Easter Eggs wrapped purely in foil. The Eco-Eggs range alone has saved 117 tonnes of cardboard – equivalent to approximately 2.000 trees; and 283 tonnes of PVC – equivalent to approximately 6.74 million 1.5L PET plastic bottles. In 2008 Cadbury saved a total of 1130 tonnes of packaging on standard lines and through the introduction of the Eco-Eggs range.
Cadbury has also reduced the plastic in its boxed egg range and the cardboard used in the secondary packaging. They intend on reducing packaging on their boxed lines further in 2009, delivering and exceeding against their Purple Goes Green commitments. Eco-Eggs will also be available in 2009.
Jo Grice, Giving & Seasonal Brand Manager, commented: “We have set ourselves aggressive targets to reduce our seasonal packaging and it is critical that we take people with us on our green journey. We are delighted that this award recognises the work we have done to date and our goals for the future. Not only have the Eco-Eggs been supported by customers such as Tesco, and external stakeholders such as WRAP, but the eggs have proven to be a popular choice with consumers as Cadbury maintained its position as the number one Easter Egg manufacturer.”
Green Awards judges commented that Cadbury was chosen due to the opportunity it used to communicate a strong green message, setting a precedent for other confectionery manufacturers to follow.
Cadbury has reported progress on its sustainability commitments in its 2007/08 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability review, launched online at:
